Automatic sprinkler



(No Model.)

A. K. RIDER. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

No. 326,155. Patented Sept. 15, 1885 I JL u g y, g

llVI/E/VTOR W/T/VESSES N. PUERs, Pholo-l hngrlpher alhln on. D

in section.

, UNITED STATES ALEXANDER. KIRK RIDER,

PATENT OFFICE.

or WALDEN, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,155, datedSeptember 15', 1885.

Application filed March 30, 1885. (No model.) a

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER K. RIDER, of Walden, in the county ofOrange and State ture far below the boiling-point of a liquid,

and in which the thermostat shall act directly in opening the valve ofthe sprinkler, a further object being to provide an automatic sprinklerof comparatively simple construction, and adapted to general use inbuildings of all kinds provided with a standing watersupply; and withthese ends in view my invention consists in a sprinkler directlyoperated by the expansion and contraction of a liquid.

My invention further consists in a balanced valve for admitting water tothe sprinkler, said valve being connected with and operated by athermostat-coil. I

My invention further consists in certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aview of the apparatus in sideelevation, partly Fig. 2 is a view of the same in end elevation, andFig. 3 is a transverse sec tion through the valve.

W is the water-main or stand-pipe, conveniently provided with aT'coupling, w, at the point where it is desired to attach the automaticsprinkler.

The valve-casingl consists of a short cylindrical tube, and has anannular chamber, P, formed about it in the shape of a belt by means ofan outer casing, B. The casing I R is screwed, communicating with thechamber P. The chamber P also communicates withthe interior of thecasingl through a belt of perforations, p.

L represents a piston-valve adapted to work within thecasing I. Itconsists of the disk L, provided on its upper and lower faces withcup-shaped leather or other flexible packing.

T, held in contact with the disk Land interior surface of the casing bymeans of the washers U U. -The piston as thus constructed isprovidedwith a series of perforations, m, for

the free transmission of water through it, and

with 'a central perforation, through which the valve-stem 0 passes.Thestem G is provlded with a shoulder, 0, against which the outer faceof the piston abuts, and with a nut, n,

which secures the piston on the stem inthe ordinary manner. The outerend of the easing I is closed by a screw plug or head, S, pro-. videdwith a central perforation, through which the valve-stem (3 passes. Thevalvestem is packed by aflexible washer, t, heldin position by a metalwasher, to.

The outer end of the valve-stem vided with a spool-shaped nut, G.

A represents a thermostat adapted to operate the valve. It is preferablyof the same general construction as that shown and de- G is proscribedin Letters Patent No. 294,405, granted 7 to me on March 4, 1884, andconsists of a curved flat tube constructed of spring metal or otherflexible material, filled with a liquidoil,glycerine,or spirits, forexampl'e-and hermetically sealed. For the purpose, however, offurnishing an increased volume of liquid and obtaining a more markedeffect for a slight change in temperature, I find it convenient toprovide the stationary end of the thermostat with an enlarged reservoir,D,

which may be cylindrical, as shown, or any other desired shape. A slightchange in temperature,while causing a slight change in the volume ofeach molecule of the liquid, will cause a sum total of increase involume which will be proportionate to the number of mole IOO Thereservoir end of the thermostat is sup ported in a suitable rest, 6, onthe lower end of a hanger or bracket, E, and its free end is providedwith a pair of jaws, H, which partially embrace the spool G on the valvestem 0. The upper end of the hanger or bracket E is secured to thecasing B.

At ordinary temperatures the piston or valve L will cover theperforations 12, leading from the interior of the casing I into thechamber P; but when the temperature rises to a certain degree, in thecase of a fire breaking out in the room or from any other cause, thethermostat-tube will tend to straighten, and thereby move the piston Lsufficiently to uncover the perforations p, as shownin Fig. 1, and thesprinkler will commence to discharge water. Should the air become cooledafter a time, the liquid within the thermostat would contract again, thetubereturn to its normal position, and the piston L be thereby slid overthe perforations p,and the discharge of water would cease.

By adjusting the spool G on the stem 0 the valve maybe regulated to opensooner of later, as may be desired, thereby adjusting its operation tocorrespond with different degrees of temperature.

The expansive force of a liquid is infinitely greater than that of avapor when raised in temperature the same number of degrees, and hence Ideem it important that the action of the valve shall depend upon theformer rather than upon the weak force of the latter; but it is notabsolutely necessary that the liquid should be confined in a tube of theabove construetion, as it might be arranged in such a manner as to actdirectly on a piston.

It is obvious that slight changes might be resorted to in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. For instance, itis notessential to use a balanced valve in all cases, as the thermostat ispowerful enough to operate an ordinary valve, unless the head of waterhe unusually strong, and the shape of the thermostat may be other thanthe circular form shown; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly tothe construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a sprinkler and a water-supply pipe, of a valvelocated between the sprinkler and supply-pipe, a valverod,and athermostat consisting, essentially, of a flattened metallic tube, curvedas shown, and filled or partly filled with an expanding fluid and.connected with the valve-rod.

2. The combination, with a sprinkler and a water-supply pipe, of abalanced valve located between the sprinkler and the supply-- pipe, avalve-rod, and a bent-tube thermostat ALEXANDER KIRK RIDER. \Vitnesses:

W. G. Srnvnns,

O. W. SADLIER.

